M23 Fatal Crash
Van driver arrested after fatal M23 crash kills highways worker, causing major disruption and Gatwick delays
Key Points
The southbound M23 remains closed between Junction 8 (Merstham) and Junction 10 (Crawley) with diversions in place, and traffic is experiencing severe delays, including congestion toward the M26 in Kent and back past Reigate in Surrey.
Different outlets gave slightly different reopen estimates: some reporting the carriageway could stay closed into the early afternoon, while others anticipated late-morning reopen times, signaling uncertainty in the immediate recovery window.
Gatwick Airport advised travelers to allow extra time for journeys due to disruption on the M23, with officials urging consideration of alternative routes.
Sussex Police are urging witnesses and dashcam footage and have published a contact email for collision enquiries (collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk) as part of Operation Oakcross.
At the scene, police noted that the investigation was halted shortly before midday, indicating a pause in on-site processing before continuing with the inquiry.
A 65-year-old highways worker from Kent was killed on the M23 near Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after a van struck him on the southbound carriageway at Junction 9 near Crawley, just before 1am. The van driver, a 38-year-old man from Croydon, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and drink-driving and remained in custody, according to Kent Live.
The collision shut the southbound M23 between Junction 8 at Merstham and Junction 10 at Crawley, causing severe delays stretching back past Reigate in Surrey and into Kent toward the M26. Gatwick Airport urged travelers to allow extra time for their journeys, kmfm reported.
Fatal Strike on a Major Motorway Near Gatwick
The collision happened at around 12:50am on the M23 southbound at Junction 9. A highways worker, aged 65 and from Kent, was hit by a van while on the carriageway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed, Get Surrey reported.
The 38-year-old van driver from Croydon, south London, was arrested on two counts — causing death by dangerous driving and drink-driving. He remained in custody as of Wednesday morning, according to AOL News.
M23 Closed for Hours, Delays Back to Reigate
The southbound carriageway was sealed off between Junction 8 (Merstham) and Junction 10 (Crawley) with diversions put in place. Congestion built quickly, spreading back past Reigate in Surrey and toward the M26 in Kent. Estimates on when the road would reopen varied. Some outlets pointed to late morning, while others suggested the closure could stretch into early afternoon, kmfm noted.
Gatwick Airport, which sits just off the M23, told passengers to plan ahead and consider alternative routes. National Highways also issued travel warnings and asked drivers to allow extra time, Get Surrey reported.
Sussex Police Launch Operation Oakcross Appeal
Sussex Police launched a formal investigation under the name Operation Oakcross. Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage who was on the M23 southbound before 1am to come forward. The force published a dedicated contact email — collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk — for anyone with information, according to Kent Live.
Officers paused on-site processing at the scene shortly before midday before continuing the inquiry. Police offered condolences to the family of the worker who died. The investigation is ongoing, Get Surrey reported.
Dangers Facing Highways Workers on UK Roads
The death highlights a recurring danger for highways workers. Crashes involving roadside workers on UK motorways are not uncommon, and the M23 is a key arterial route linking London to Gatwick Airport and the south coast. A single overnight incident was enough to paralyze traffic across three counties for much of the morning, kmfm reported.
The arrested driver's age — 38 — and suspected drink-driving have drawn particular attention. If charged and convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, he could face a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison under UK law. The case is being handled by Sussex Police's serious collision investigation unit.
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